Letters to the editor for Friday, January 18, 2013

Friday

Jan 18, 2013 at 2:00 AM

Apparently a lot of your readers are misinformed about what it takes to get a handgun permit. In order for someone to exercise his Second Amendment rights, he has to go through a lot more than to exercise any of the other amendments.

Apparently a lot of your readers are misinformed about what it takes to get a handgun permit. In order for someone to exercise his Second Amendment rights, he has to go through a lot more than to exercise any of the other amendments.

In order to get a handgun permit, you have to fill out a form, have four people vouch for your integrity, no relatives, have it signed by a notary, and have your fingerprints taken. Then they do a criminal and mental background check on you.

If all of that comes back OK, you get interviewed by a judge and then if he thinks you are a responsible person, maybe in six months he will issue you a permit. As far as the so-called "assault weapons" are concerned, they are not fully automatic as some readers seem to think. You have to pull the trigger once for every shot you want to fire.

Also, the first report on the Newtown shootings said the rifle was found in the car, only the handguns were found near the shooter. Was this report wrong, or are the politicians just using this to push for more gun controls?

John L. Baldwin

Greenfield Park

We need mental health and background checks for all gun owners, as well as a ban on assault weapons, semi-autos, and large clips. All these are anti-personnel devices, nothing to do with hunting or target shooting. This is a start.

We also need safety training for gun owners, like driver's education, in school, and an end to gun shows.

We may not be able to prevent all gun violence, but we can reduce it, just as we can't stop all drunken driving but we reduce it.

The NRA today is a manufacturers' front, looking to sell more guns and ammo. Responsible gun owners — I am one — want no part of the NRA, but it rallies the paranoid and conspiracy theory nuts.

Guns in school do not work. The Columbine school had an armed cop, but it did no good. Guns on the street don't work. At the Giffords shooting, an armed bystander-store owner almost shot the rescuer. The idea of armed "defenders" comes from cowboy movies. The reality is hitting bystanders, "friendly fire" incidents, ricochets and stolen guns.

Norman Shapiro

Warwick

Many of the letters on "gun control" miss critical points: First, the Second Amendment recognizes no unrestricted right to bear arms. Second, no single solution to pervasive violence is possible and, as with most complex social problems, many complementary steps are needed. Third, the emphasis on school security is no panacea, as many acts of violence have occurred despite the presence of ample security.

In my view, many "solutions" must be simultaneously implemented and the virtues of one should not be compared to those of others. Among the many steps needed are greater regulation of assault weapons and magazine capacity, a substantial emphasis on moral education in our public schools, much more focus on parenting education and the end to the routine-ization of violence, which is so plain throughout our society.

In addition, more counseling in our schools and mental health agencies is also needed. I would station unarmed security in our schools and buzz-in security systems at every school building, but would avoid armed guards in such settings.

And enhanced penalties for crimes committed with guns makes sense as well. These "solutions" are not mutually exclusive and their effectiveness reinforces each other.

Michael Sussman

Chester

Attention gun owners: We can make a difference. We will never get criminals to obey the laws; we have tried that and look where it has gotten us.

We know new gun laws will have little effect, except on those of us who obey the law. We have the right to own firearms, but with that right comes a great responsibility to safeguard those firearms.

There are an alarming number of firearms stolen every year — this is unacceptable. Gun owners are among the most law-abiding people there are; now we have to ensure that we are the most responsible.

Lock up all your firearms. There are many devices that secure a weapon but give you very quick access in case of emergency. The last thing we want is to be part of the problem. We can make a difference.

Jim Baxter

Greenwood Lake

Neighbors with guns: I wish I lived in Rockland or Westchester counties, for then I would know which of my neighbors had registered guns.

I would know whom to call if I felt that animal in my backyard was a rabid raccoon. I would know whom to call when my cat brought home a dead robin riddled with bullets. I would know whom to call if someone didn't shovel snow off their sidewalk. I would know whom to call if another neighbor made too much noise. I would know whom to call if I felt someone was breaking into my house.

Most importantly, I would know whom to stay away from because they could kill me.

Lee Luce

Warwick

I see a great deal in common between the NRA and Big Tobacco.

Each has powerful interests in Washington. Each represents products that directly or indirectly kill people. Neither one is responsible for how its customers use or misuse their products. Each only cares about selling more of what makes them profitable.

Big business doesn't care about those lost to gun violence or cancer, but the survivors of those victims do care. The NRA and Big Tobacco have lobbyists who effectively have our lawmakers in their pockets.

When products sold by private companies impact the lives of citizens as much as guns and tobacco do, the people have a right to have the sale of those products regulated. It's not a Second Amendment issue, it's a societal one.

The people do not have lobbyists working for them. They have congressmen, senators and representatives to speak for them. Are they even listening? Laws need to be passed that reflect the will of the people, not those of big business.

Kevin McDonnell

Harriman

I am a member of American Legion Post 1026 Woodstock's NY Honor Guard. These new laws will make the M-1 rifle we use in our veterans services illegal.

It appears to me that people have overreacted with respect to gun laws. There are a lot of law-abiding gun owners who will be affected by these new laws — no fault of their own.

Donald Rice

West Hurley

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